AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02 Eric M.K Osiakwan Internet Research An innovative Internet access solution for schools and corporations

AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02

Eric M.K OsiakwanInternet Research

An innovative Internet access solution for schools and corporations in under-

served communities

Internet access for any school anywhere is the goal!


Proposal for sending Internet to any school anywhere in poor infrastructure Africa

Presentation Objective


• Access to the ‘net is a must-have• Lack of telecom infrastructure and “last-mile” solutions are tough challenges for African schools and corporates• Lack of funds (or lack of business case for funds)• Building infrastructure is time-consuming • Geographical barriers abound in providing nation-wide access• Human capital is almost zero

The Challenge

AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02Tuesday, October 30, 2001

VOLTA TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY LTD (VOLTACOM)

21

UPPER WESTREGION

U PPE R EA ST

RE GION

NORTHERN REGION

BRONG-AHAFOREGION

ASHANTI REGION

W E STERN RE GION

CEN TRA L RE GIONGREATER ACCRA

REGION

EASTERN REGION

MAP OF THE VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY

OPGW LA YOUTIN GHANA

BOLGATANGA

SUBSTATION

SUBSTATION

TAMALE

TECHIMANSUBSTATION

SUNYANI SUBSTATION

KUMASISUBSTATION

OBUASISUBSTATION

NEW OBUASISUBSTATION

KOFORIDUA

TAFOSUBSTATION

NKAWKAW SUBSTATION

KONONGOSUBSTATION

DUNKWASUBSTATION

BOGOSOSUBSTATION

PRESTEA 161KVSUBSTATION

PRESTEA 225KVSUBSTATION TARKWA

SUBSTATION

TAKORADISUBSTATION

CAPE COASTSUBSTATION

WINNEBASUBSTATION

ACHIMOTASUBSTATION

VOLTASUBSTATION

NEW TEMA SUBSTATION

SMELTER SUBSTATION

ASIEKPE SUBSTATIONLOME (TOGO)SUBSTATION

KPONG GSAKOSOMBO GS

ABOBOSUBSTATION(COTE D’IVOIRE)

BAWKU SUBSTATION

DAPAONG (TOGO)SUBSTATION

HO (69KV)

KPEVE

KPANDU

ABOADZE G.S

WA

NAVRONGO

DORMAA

BEREKUM

WENCHI

MIM

LEGENDTRANSMISSIONLINES FITTEDWITH OPGW

TRANSMISSIONLINES -PLANNEDFOR FUTURE OPGW

TRANSMISSION LINESBEING CONSIDEREDFOR FUTURE OPGW

KINTAMPOBUI

BOLE

SAWLA

YENDI

HAN

TUMU

TO OUAGADOUGOU(BURKINA FASO)

• More than 20 WAN companies• Backbone – Voltacom, GT• Wireless access methods mostly 2.4G centered in Accra, Kumasi• Lastmile monthly cost for dedicated access range from $300 - $1,800• Narrowband over Cu is very poor

Credit - VRA


“The Quandary”

Poor or non-existent telecom infrastructure.

Inability to create centralised/distributed/remote access computing for: point-of-sale systems, information bureau and clearing systems, credit/debit systems, on-line banking, Internet access.

Lack of funds.Businesses growth hampered, economies cannot create adequate wealth.


• Provide Internet access solution to schools and corporations that adequately address all the following issues:– Deployed very rapidly– Must have no geographical barriers– Must be very reliable– Must be available always– Must provide a reasonably good access speed– Inexpensive

… the Challenge


• Use Racom’s Morse wireless technology to provide links– MR25 for remote schools – all locations reachable, but slow– MR900 and other broadband solutions for inner-city

• Email:– Web based mail interface using local server– Fetch hotmail and yahoo! into local student accounts

• Web:– Mirror as many sites as possible on the local server– Automate mirroring requests from the schools– Enable caching for sites not mirrored– Use www4mail@ictp in Italy for web searches– Create [email protected] in future

Arrow’s Javelin


How Does It Work?

WWW/E-Mail

EthernetWAN

Technology Mirror/Cachefor Http and Mail

ISP/Firewall

Workstation Workstation

Workstation

WorkstationWorkstation

Workstation


• Access to the ‘net is mediated by the local server via mirroring and caching• Local server updates web pages at nite• Mirroring process runs forever digging deep into sites to mirror sub-links. Sites are available during the process.• Direct access is automatically invoked if both mirror and cache fail. Missing internal mirror link generates error.• Mails are posted and received through a local mail box using a web interface• Hotmail, yahoo! etc fetched into local mail box• Web sites could be 24 hours late, mails are fairly recent

How Does It Work?


A brief on the telecom technology


• Racom for 12 years used it for transaction processing in Czech Republic, Austria, Slovak, China, Russia, Norway• We have used it to create the biggest WAN in Ghana for transaction processing• The radio uses licensed UHF frequencies, minimal line of sight, long range: 110km achieved so far• Meshed topology greatly enhances reliability• Comes standard with both serial and Ethernet IP ports• Radio, modem, router, protocol converter in tight knit• Non-line of sight 9.6 – 128kbps data rate

…the technology


Down/Up sides of Javelin!• Down side:– Web pages likely to be late– Limited direct access to the ‘net– Annoyingly slow if you have to use MR25 directly

• Up side– What is the alternative of zero access?– Limited direct ‘net access may enhance control of students– Schools may not require up-to-date sites for education. Local server can be ‘recharged’ at a nearby school– Inexpensive access– Speed of deployment to any school anywhere in the country– Solution is scalable to higher transmission speeds


Questions?

contact:[email protected]

fax: +233-21-238038

www.racom.cz www.arrownetworks.net


• Hardware required:– Radio transceiver– Modem– Router– Antenna and cabling– Note the above are integrated, hence the low cost– Local mirror and cache server

• We’re presently able to put the hardware together for $3k• Expect price to be lower for multiple sites• Running cost components

– Link maintenance– Server, system administration and system development– We hope to charge $50 a month anywhere in the country (compare with existing $300-$1,800 a month)

How much does it cost?

Documents

AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02 Eric M.K Osiakwan Internet Research An innovative Internet access solution for schools and corporations